Kitchen Science at Home: Engaging Pre-School Children in Modeling-Based Learning Through Distance Education During COVID-19 Quarantine

• In Event: Science Teaching and Learning: Out-of-School Science

Abstract

Following a growing body of research on using Modeling-based Learning in early grades, this is a case study describing the ways I engaged a group of 20 5-6,5-year-old children in an afternoon, distance, science education unit investigating snails. The study took place during the Covid-19 quarantine time in Spring 2020. The paper demonstrates the transferability of pedagogical ideas usually implemented in the face-to-face classroom (i.e.,the playful nature, the interaction; the provision of a number of different activities). It also illustrates pedagogical ideas that were more productive to use during the online unit (i.e.,using quarantine distancing in favor of learning, tools for meaningfully engaging children). Lastly, I describe the development of an online learning community that included children and parents.

Author

• Loucas T. Louca, European University Cyprus